Happy May!
Hi, friends, happy May!
And happy International Workers’ Day! Please enjoy this throwback of a throwback in celebration:
The illustration above is a 2023 redraw of the one I originally drew in 2019 as an ode to all the disabled folks like myself who work from where we can— and that’s often from bed for so many (or the couch in my case lol). I decided to redraw it last year, using it to practice colors and digital work.
It resonates with me still as economic and working conditions continue to decline worldwide and disabled workers continue to fight for basic rights and access in the workplace. Disabled workers and non-workers are in a precarious position economically and socially, one which has worsened with government COVID denial, the dismantling of public health, and an eagerness of the public to “return to normal.”
The removal of accessible conditions in public spaces such as masking, clean air policies, and remote options for jobs and events has further segregated a population already kept at arm’s length from the rest of society through ableism and a rapid resurgence of eugenics amidst ever-present white supremacy.
Looking at the progress I made with these two pieces forcibly reminds me how crucial it is to hold on to hope that progress can still be made for those it was inspired by, too— not just an improvement in labor conditions for all workers but also a movement toward dismantling capitalism and all systems keeping oppression alive.
April Reflections
As promised last month, April involved a lot of studying and, honestly? Just surviving.
April is always a hard month for me due to some traumaversaries and triggering dates. (August, too— I call them the two asshole months in my head lol) It’s been extra difficult this year with my partner still unable to find work and with our plans to move out of NYC delayed until he can.
But there were some really wonderful moments these last few weeks, too, my favorite being spending time with my favorite kiddo and her pup and my friends to help my friend prepare for her twins coming this month!
We spent some time doing side quests for our friend, all while playing with the kiddo and enjoying each other’s company. I brought over some peanut butter jelly cookies for everyone and some meals for my friend’s freezer. It’s always rejuvenating to spend time with my favorite people (and doggo), and I was glad my partner, my friends, and I could help our friend.
Look at him!! Isn’t he just the sweetest lil old man you ever did see? He’s the best, I love him so much 🥰 He was extra adorable that day, too— he wanted everyone to stop working and just cuddle him, so he kept sitting on our tools and hands. It worked a lot lol.
In the Studio
Here’s a bit more progress on that griffin piece I’ve been slowly working at. Can you see the sewing influence creeping in there? lol I’ve drawn the elements in different colors to help me keep track of where things are in the piece, but they’ll be changing once I settle on the palette I want. I’ve been really drawn to cyan blues lately, so I’m leaning that way at the moment. Something about a glowing forest feels so cozy~
There was a lot more sewing than illustrating going on in the studio in April, that’s for sure! I’m very pleased to report that the quilts for the twins have all been pieced and sandwiched together, and I’m now on the best part— the hand quilting!
There are seventy blocks per quilt, meaning I have 280 little squares to stitch away. I’m about halfway done with the first quilt as I write this.
Another reason I haven’t been drawing as much is because my carpal tunnel in both hands has been… well, let’s just say my doctor thinks I may need surgery in both my hands. I lost about 90% of the feeling in my dominant hand’s thumb a few years ago, and the nerve damage has been growing in my index finger since then, too. There are nights when I can barely sleep because of the pain and days when I drop everything I hold because my grip is so weak.
So whenever I’ve had time and energy to dedicate toward a craft using my hands these last few weeks, I’ve been prioritizing these quilts. I’m usually too tired after studying to think much for drawing anyway, and I’d really like to get these quilts done soon in case we do end up moving out of state later this year.
It’s been really peaceful to just sit and stitch with the quilt on my lap and a show like Star Trek: Discovery on to keep me company. I can’t wait for these quilts to put to use keeping the babies warm!
Another project from April is this quilted tote bag. Our old bag that holds all our grocery bags has been broken for several weeks now, and I finally decided to make time to create a replacement. The old one was an upcycled bag we were given at Teso, and it was the third upcycled one we had that broke (cheap materials and construction), so I decided it was time to make one from scratch that’s Jessi strong lol.
I used scraps for everything except the cotton webbing handles which I ordered from a small shop online. But I was very pleased to use nothing but scraps for everything else. The frog print was leftover from a skirt I made myself for Pride that I adore.
I was also glad to be able to make a bag that works better with my body— longer straps for big arms that can hang over my shoulder and leave my hand free for using my cane when I walk, plus shorter handles for carrying by hand. I’m grateful that I can use my sewing knowledge to make my life a little more accessible in small ways here and there.
I’m also grateful that I can use my old sewing machine that’s much easier on my hands than the hand-sewing I prefer!
And finally, I made a few more practical items last month. One is this bag I made for my favorite kiddo when I realized the day before the nesting party that I didn’t have a good sized bag at home for a gift for her, so I whipped out some more scraps to make this quilted one.
And I forgot to take photos of the last items, but they were some upcycled vinyl bags for my sewing drawer that are very helpful for keeping it organized. I was so excited when my partner’s dad had some vinyl I could use for this because who wants to buy plastic when they can avoid it!
In the meantime, I’ve been mulling over some comic ideas in my mind as I work on these and take my usual storytelling workshops, and I’ve decided this counts as progress, too, even though I can’t show you that work lol. Here’s to hoping next month will have more illustration and some visible comics progress, too!
Cartoonist Cooperative’s Open House + 2023 Comics Worker Survey
Speaking of International Workers’ Day today, please allow me to once again wax poetic about the Cartoonist Cooperative’s work. Well, actually, why don’t I let someone else do that this time— come check out our Open House tonight at 7 PM ET! We’ll be discussing the results from our 2023 Comics Worker Survey, and you can also get an idea for what the Co-op is all about!
“Join The Cartoonist Cooperative in our first ever open house on May 1st, 7 pm ET! Steering will be presenting our 2023 Worker Survey in a presentation style format, expanding on points in the survey, talking about our methodology, and answering questions.”
Also, I know I talk about this a lot, but I truly love putting together the Co-op’s members-only newsletter, and I really wish I could show you the amazing one going out today— it’s truly a thing of beauty 🥲 Everyone in the Co-op puts in so much effort in their own way, and it’s just an amazing atmosphere of people all working toward common goals and interests.
If you love comics or make them yourself, you can join and get access to all the free resources, events, and community we share each month. It’s such a fun and collaborative environment, I really can’t encourage you to join us enough!
Black Josei Press Hiatus
The wonderful Black Josei Press is going to be going on an indefinite hiatus at the end of this year. Jamila Rowser’s work on the press and her comics work in general has been an inspiration to witness.
Black Josei Press will be missed, and I hope we get to see it return some day. I’m really glad we’ll still be able to follow Jamila’s other work in the meantime! I look forward to checking out works like her, ONeillJones, and Jodie Troutman’s STEELING TIME coming up in the DC Pride 2024.
If you’ve ever been interested in getting a comic (like Gordita: Built Like This) from Black Josei Press, now’s the time!
Comics Read in April
Here’s what I read in April! I was especially excited to get my hands on Wires Crossed, illustrated by the lovely ONeillJones, and read Keeping Time by Kody Okamoto!
Minis + Micros Online:
I read so many mini and micro comics this past month that I can’t include them all! So I’m gonna choose a representative sample to share here instead lol
Surprisingly the hardest part of my job is the psychic damage
April is sexual assault awareness month (Content note: incest)
if only there was something that would help reduce illness and allergies
The canon heart event that made me want to do these comics to begin with (Content note: suicidal ideation) (Follow up comics one and two)
lead balloon (Content note: suicidal ideation)
10PM on a wednesday (Content note: neglect/abuse)
carnation comic (NSFW)
idk what aaliyah is talking about but thats ok because neither does cole
Question for Lakia, when and how did she first figure out she’s a girl? I imagine it’s a cute story
Recent Favorites
Here are some of my recent favorites!
our neighborhood bird flock taking dust baths outside— they look so cute and funny with their wings flopping all around
the little treasures my favorite kiddo shared with me: a boba tea sticker, flower petals she picked just for us, and a pink piece of paper folded into “a baby triangle”
watching the newest and final Star Trek: Discovery season— I am gonna miss this amazing show so much when it concludes!
What have you been loving lately? 💖
See You Next Time!
Well, that's all for today! Thanks so much for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful May 💖 I'll talk to you soon!
With love,
they/them
